Pavement joint assembly unit



p 1941- D. H. BITNEY 2,254,771

PAVEMENT JOINT ASSEMBLY UNIT Filed Sept. 14. 1939 I I I l G INVENTOR. BY flew? /7. 5/7775? I C2 M1 A .oRNEYS Patented Sept. 2, 1941 UNITED STTS PAVEMENT JOINT ASSEMBLY UNIT Application September 14, 1939, Serial No. 294,804

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in pavement joint assembly units.

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide a pavement joint assembly unit having means to accurately position and support follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical section illustrating a pavement joint assembly unit embodying my invention in operative relation to adjacent pavement sections and a joint filler therebetween.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating my improved joint assembly unit in operative relation to a joint filler, a dowel being shown in initial position for engagement by full lines and in fully engaged position by dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view with a dowel in position and sectioned on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the relation of the overlapping base portions of the chair members and the connecting tie member therefor.

In the accompanying drawing, the numerals l and 2 represent adjacent sections of a pavement and 3 a filler joint between them. The joint dowels 4 extend between and into the pavement sections and are usually provided with the sleeve members 4! on the ends thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The joint assembly comprises a plurality of cross members designated generally by the numeral 5 and spaced longitudinal rods 6 to which the cross members are secured in suitably spaced relation. Only one cross member is illustrated in the accompanying drawing but it will be understood that the unit will be of such length as may be required for the particular pavement and that the cross members will be spaced relative to each other as may be required by the engineering specifications for the pavement.

These cross members comprise a pair, of 0ppositely disposed chair members, each chair member comprising base portions 1 disposed in spaced parallel relation and with their ends in overlapping relation as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The base'portions l terminate at their inner ends in upwardly projecting positioning members 8 for the joint filler 3. The base portions 7 are connected by tie members 9 Welded at 9| to the undersides of their overlapping portions.

At their outer ends, the chair members have upstanding uprights or legs II] to which the longitudinal members 6 are welded as indicated at 6|. The uprights Ill terminate in laterally disposed arms in overhanging relation to the longitudinal member 6 and these arms II have return bends l3 therein providing detents l2 which are downwardly ofiset relative to the arms I l. The detents I2 are springable and they terminate in such relation to the vertical portions of the uprights as to coact therewith and With the longitudinal members by clampingly supporting the dowels as shown in Fig. 3.

The arms ll of a coacting pair of chair members are disposed in oppositely facing relation so that the dowel may be arranged through a hole M in the filler or joint strip and engaged with the arms with a swinging movement. This avoids the necessity of shifting the joint filler 3 longitudinally and permits the dowels being individually engaged.

The bases of the chair members are spaced substantially the diameter of the dowel to be supported so that when the dowel is engaged it is clamped against the upright portions of the chair members and at the same time is accurately positioned at right angles to the joint. When stresses are set up due to expansion or contraction of the joint, the tie member will accommodate such stresses or in the event they are severe will fracture at the wells 9|. It is unimportant that thechair members be connected after the parts are properly positioned and the pavement slabs formed and set. In th event of severe contracting movement to close the joint, the filler positioning members 8 and the base members can spring or yield to accommodate such movement without injury to the pavement as they are disposed in the edge of the concrete and not completely embedded therein.

I have illustrated and described my invention in highly practical embodiments thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe certain embodiments and adaptations of my invention which I contemplate for particular uses as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A pavement joint assembly unit comprising spaced longitudinal rods, a plurality of pairs of chair members, the chair members of the pair being oppositely disposed and each comprising a base portion and an upright portion at the outer end of the base portion welded to said 1ongitudinal rods, the base portions of the pair of chair members being disposed in laterally spaced parallel relation and with their inner ends in overlapping relation and terminating in upstanding joint filler positioning members, the base portions of the pairs of chair members having tie members welded to the under sides of their Overlapping portions, the uprights terminating in laterally disposed arms spaced above the longitudinal rods to receive a dowel between them, the arms having return bent downwardly ofiset ends providing springable dowel retaining detents, the lateral spacing of said base portions being substantially equal to the diameter of the dowel to be supported, the dowel securing arms of the uprights of the coacting pair being disposed to face oppositely and toward one another, permitting assembly of a dowel therewith by a swinging movement of the dowel and the positioning of the dowel at right angles to the joint.

2. A pavement joint assembly unit comprising spaced longitudinal rods, a plurality of pairs of chair members, the chair members of the pair being oppositely disposed and each comprising a base portion and an upright portion at the outer end of the base portion welded to said longitudinal rods, the base portions of the pair of chair members being disposed in laterally spaced parallel relation and with their inner ends in overlapping relation and terminating in upstanding joint filler positioning members spaced longitudinally of the base portions a distance equal to the thickness of the joint, the base portions of the pairs of chair members having tie members Welded to their overlapping portions between the pair of upstanding filler positioning members and i maintaining the base portions of the chair members of each pair in laterally spaced relation, the lateral spacing of said base portions being substantially equal to the diameter of the dowel to be supported, and means for securing the supported dowels comprising dowel engaging elements integral with said uprights.

3. A pavement joint assembly unit comprising spaced longitudinal rods, a plurality of pairs of chair members, the chair members of the pair being oppositely disposed and each comprising a base portion and an upright portion at the outer end of the base portion welded to said longitudinal rods, the base portions of the pair of chair members being parallel and spaced laterally an amount substantially equal to the thickness of a dowel, said base portions having their inner ends in longitudinally overlapping relation and terminating in upstanding laterally spaced joint filler positioning members engaging opposite sides of the joint filler, the base portions of the pairs of chair members having .tie members welded to their overlapping portions between the joint filler positioning members and maintaining the base portion of the chair members of each pair in laterally spaced relation.

4. A pavement joint assembly unit comprising longitudinal members, and cross members each comprising base portions having upright portions at the outer ends thereof welded to said longitudinal members, the base portions being disposed in laterally spaced parallel relation and with their inner ends in overlapping relation and terminating in upstanding joint filler positioning members, said base portions having connecting tie members secured to their overlapping portions, the upright portions of said cross members terminating in laterally ofiset arms disposed above and in spaced relation to said longitudinal members to receive a dowel between them, said arms terminating in return bent downwardly directed ofiset detent portions, the ends of which are spaced from said uprights to coact therewith in supporting a dowel, the lateral spacing of the cross members being substantially equal to the diameter of a dowel to be supported and the arms of the uprights being disposed in opposite directions and toward one another, permitting assembly of a dowel therewith by a swinging movement of the dowel and the positioning of the dowel at right angles to the joint.

5. A pavement joint assembly unit comprising longitudinal members, and cross members each comprising a pair of base portions having upright portions at the outer ends thereof welded to said longitudinal members, the base portions being parallel and spaced laterally an amount substantially equal to the thickness of a dowel, said base portions having their inner ends in longitudinally overlapping relation, said base portions having connecting tie members secured to their overlapping portions and maintaining the bas portions of each cross member in laterally spaced relation, the upright portions of said cross members terminating in laterally offset arms disposed above and in spaced relation to said longitudinal members to receive a dowel of curved section between them, said arms terminating in return bent downwardly offset detent portions, the ends of which are spaced from said uprights to engage the dowel at a point to one side of a vertical plan through its point of greatest Width and below the topmost portion thereof and thereby secure the dowel against the uprights and longitudinal members by a wedging action.

6. A pavement joint assembly unit comprising longitudinal members, and cross members each comprising base portions having upright portions at the outer ends thereof fixedly secured to said longitudinal members, the base portions being disposed in laterally spaced parallel relation and with their inner ends in overlapping relation, said base members having connecting tie members welded to their overlapping portions, the lateral spacing of the cross members being substantially equal to the diameter of a dowel to be supported, and oppositely disposed dowel engaging members on said uprights extending in opposite directions and toward one another to permit swinging engagement of the dowel with the last named members.

'7. A pavement joint assembly unit comprising longitudinal members, and cross members each comprising a pair of base portions having upright portions at the outer ends thereof fixedly secured to said longitudinal members, the base portions being parallel and spaced laterally an amount substantially equal to th thickness of a dowel, said base portions having their inner ends in longitudinally overlapping relation, connecting tie members welded to their overlapping portions and maintaining the base portions of each cross member in laterally spaced relation, and dowel engaging means on said uprights.

8. A pavement joint assembly unit comprising longitudinal members, and cross members each comprising base portions having upright portions at the outer ends thereof welded to said longitudinal members, the base portion being disposed in laterally spaced parallel relation and having upstanding joint filler positioning members, said base members having connecting tie members welded thereto between said filler positioning members and serving to maintain th base portions of each cross member, the lateral spacing of the base portions being substantially equal to the diameter of a dowel to be supported, and means for securing a dowel on opposite sides of said uprights.

9. A pavement joint dowel support comprising a coacting pair of oppositely disposed chair members having base portions disposed in laterally spaced parallel relation with their ends in overlapping relation, a tie member welded to the undersides of the overlapping portions of the base portions, said base portions having upright portions at the outer ends thereof terminating in laterally disposed arms having return bent downwardly ofiset ends providing springable dowel retaining detents, and dowel support members welded to said uprights below their said arms and coacting therewith and with said detents to sup-V port and clampingly retain a dowel engaged therewith, the lateral spacing of said base portions being substantially equal to the diameter of the dowel to be supported, the dowel supporting arms of the uprights being disposed to face oppositely and toward one another to permit swinging engagement of the dowel therewith.

10. A pavement joint dowel support comprising a chair including a coacting pair of oppositely disposed chair members having parallel base portions laterally spaced a distance approximately equal to the thickness of a dowel and with their ends in overlapping relation and terminating in upstanding joint filler positioning members, a tie member welded to the overlapping portions of the base portions and maintaining the base portions of each pair of chair members in laterally spaced relation, said base portions having upright portions at the outer ends thereof terminating in laterally disposed arms having return bent downwardly ofi'set ends providing springable dowel retaining detents, and dowel support members welded to said uprights below their said arms and coacting therewith and with said detents to support and clampingly retain a dowel engaged therewith.

DEWEY H. BITNEY. 

